She managed to evade his initial attempt and tried desperately to get away. However, the suspect caught up with her moments later, overpowered her, lifted her off the ground, and began carrying her toward his vehicle as she kicked and screamed for help.
That was when the 77-year-old woman refused to stand by and watch.
Recognizing the immediate danger, the older woman began shouting for assistance, drawing the attention of people nearby. Her decision to raise the alarm brought several residents rushing into the confrontation, creating enough commotion to interrupt the alleged abduction and help free the victim.
The elderly woman later described the terrifying moments to the Daily Mail, explaining how both women desperately attempted to stop the man.
“I was yelling, ‘Help! Help!’ and she was yelling, too. She was saying, ‘You don’t want to do this. Don’t do this,’” the woman recalled.
She also described the suspect’s frightening appearance and demeanor during the encounter.
“He looked like a monster. He just had so much hatred and craziness in his eyes,” she said.
The commotion quickly attracted residents of the condominium complex, several of whom joined the effort to prevent the woman from being taken away.
Among those who responded was resident Mike Finkelstein, who said he confronted the suspect and attempted to frighten him into releasing the victim.
“I yelled at him, ‘Let her go. I’ve called the police. I’m coming down there after you,’” Finkelstein said.
Another resident, Beverly Louis, described witnessing the disturbing scene as the suspect allegedly attempted to drag the younger woman toward his pickup truck.
Louis said the man had the victim trapped in a tight embrace while moving her toward the rear of the vehicle.
“I heard neighbors screaming, so I just started screaming, ‘Drop her! Drop her! Drop her!’ And she was screaming for her life. She was terrified,” Louis recounted.
The collective response from the residents appears to have played a critical role in preventing the alleged kidnapping from being carried out.
According to KITV, one witness also managed to photograph the suspect’s truck before the driver fled the scene. That photograph provided investigators with an additional piece of information as they worked to identify the individual responsible.
But the suspect’s apparent attempt to escape law enforcement did not last long.
Approximately three hours after the frightening encounter, police arrested 23-year-old Diesel Kawelo under circumstances that were unusual, to say the least.
Kawelo was reportedly discovered running naked down a street, bringing an abrupt end to the search for the alleged kidnapper.
The case subsequently moved into the legal system, with a Honolulu prosecutor announcing Friday that Kawelo had been indicted on charges of kidnapping and harassment, according to KHON-TV.
The charges carry significantly different potential penalties under Hawaii law. Kidnapping is classified as a Class A felony, while harassment is categorized as a petty misdemeanor.
If convicted of the kidnapping charge, Kawelo could face as much as 20 years behind bars.
The case serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly an ordinary outing can become a life-threatening situation. It also highlights the importance of bystanders who refuse to ignore someone in immediate danger.
In this instance, a 77-year-old woman played a pivotal role in bringing attention to an alleged abduction, while other residents joined forces to help prevent the victim from being taken away.
Had those witnesses simply walked away or ignored the screams, the outcome might have been far more tragic.
Instead, their quick response helped bring the frightening encounter to an end, and the suspect was in police custody just hours later.
For the 24-year-old victim, the intervention of strangers may have made all the difference.
The criminal case against Kawelo will now proceed through the courts, where prosecutors will have to establish the allegations against him. Until then, the residents who responded to the scene deserve recognition for acting when someone desperately needed help.
